Volunteers ensure hitch-free boarding of Haj pilgrims

Hyderabad: Even as the first batch of Haj pilgrims leave for Saudi Arabia, the burden of responsibility of ensuring hitch-free boarding of hundreds of pilgrims rests with the volunteers coming from different professional backgrounds who spend at least 15 days at Haj House. More than 1,000 volunteers, most of whom who have come from various districts of the State work tirelessly without any remuneration, to get their share of blessings for this deed.

Ever since the Haj House was shifted to Nampally in 2001, these volunteers have been working each year while taking a break from their busy lives. These volunteers include both men and women engaged in different sections like luggage section, assistance and support and various other sections providing their share of diligence till the last batch of pilgrims leave the Haj house. The luggage section clears approximately 600 bags (2 for each pilgrim), which involves process of scanning till it is placed on the special bus meant for pilgrims.

These volunteers some time spend their own money for food. They come from different professional backgrounds including doctors, businessmen, retired employees, private employees and also students who find themselves fit and with the hope to ‘please the Almighty’. The volunteers Abdul Ifteqar Momin, Shaik Riyaz, Syed Javeed, Majid Ali and some others have been engaged in this activity each year since 2001. While some of these volunteers took leave from college others took leave from their jobs for a period of 15 days till the day the last flight leaves. “We apply as volunteer with the Haj Committee and the committee after screening process selects each year,” said Ifteqar Momin.

Besides male volunteers, females also work separately assisting women pilgrims and handling other chores. Numbering in two to three hundreds, these female volunteers also instruct and explain them about rituals of pilgrimage. “ The female volunteers represent societies, committee, private and individual. Some of the societies like Tanzeem bint e Haram and Bazm e khawateen are engaged in these tasks since 2001,” added the volunteer.